Button-remover.



J. W BALDWIN & J. D. FREEMAN.

BUTTON REMOVER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21. 191B.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

James D. Freeman John FY. Baldwin mil 00%;

iinrrn ora ion.

JOHN W.'BALDWIN, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, AND JAMES D. FREEMAN, 0F KALAMAZOO,

MICHIGAN; SAID FREEMAN ASSIGNOB T0 SAID BALDWIN.

BUTTON-REMOVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

provements in Button-Removers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in button removers.

Our improved button remover is especially designed by us for removing shoe buttons,

although readily adapted for removing other buttons. The structure shown is of the type shown in the patent to-James D. Freeman (one ofthe applicants) No.'1,153,904, dated Septi21, 1915. t

The main object of this invention is to provide an improved button remover by means of which buttons may be quickly and easily removed without injury to the leather or fabric or to the button.

Further objects, and objects relating to structural details, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow.

We accomplish the objects of our invention by the devices and means described in A structure which is a preferred embodiment of our invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. I is a side view of astructure e nbodying the features of our invention.

Fig. II is a longitudinal central section $11 a line corresponding to line 22 of Fig.

Fig. II is a detail section similar to Fig. II with the jaws open.

Fig. III is a transverse section on a line corresponding to line 33 of Figs. I and II.

Fig. IV is a plan view of the blank from which the staple holding member of the structure illustrated is formed. 9

Fig. V is a plan view of one of the finger members of the staple holding member.

Fig. VI is a plan view of the fabric supporting tongue.

Fig. VII is a front view showing the jaws engaged upon a button preparatory to removing the same.

Fig. VIII is an end view with the jaws partially open. I

Fig. IX is a similar view with the jaws further open showing the staple substantially withdrawn.

Fig. X is a detail bottom view.

In the drawing, similar reference charac ters refer to similar parts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the sectionlines.

Referring to the drawing, we provide a pair of jaws, designated generally by the numerals 1 and 2, and having handles 3 and 4, respectively. The jaws and their handles are, in practice, formed integrally and are preferably sheet metal stampings. The lower jaw 1 is provided with upwardly projecting side flanges 5, while the upper jaw is provided with downwardly projecting 'side flanges 6 disposed between the flanges 5 of the lower jaw.

The side flanges of the upper jaw have holes 7 therein adapted to receive the pivots 8 struck in from the side flanges of the lower jaw. The handles are channel shaped in cross section, the flange portions of the handles being continuations or extensions of the side flanges of the jaws. The lower jaw is provided with a longitudinal slot 9, preferably T-shaped as shown in Fig. X. The upper jaw has a longitudinal slot 10 adapted to receive the shank of the button. The side flanges of the upper jaw have inturned button engaging portions or members 11 spaced to provide the slot 10. The tongue 12 is slidably mounted on the lower jaw to slide across the slot thereof and support thefabric as the staple is with drawn. This tongue has a longitudinal slot 13 therein. The tongue is actuated by lugs 14 formed on the side flanges of the upper jaw, the lugs engaging notches 15 in the tongue, so that when the jaws are open the tongue is moved forwardly or actuated and is retracted when thejaWS are closed.

We rovide a staple engaging and holding member 16 having fingers 17 and 18 adapted to engage a staple as the same is drawn so that the staple is entirely withdrawn instead of one end only. This staple holding member is formed of a body member 19 having the fingers 17 formed integrally therewith and the tongue member 20 having the finger 18 formed integrally therewith.

' tongue member 20 may be arranged under the part 22. The part is further secured by spot-welding.

The staple engaging member is slidably mounted on the tongue 12 on the lower jaw, the fingers being directed downwardly as shown in Figs. II and II The staple engaging member is actuated by the lever 23, the upper end of which is engaged with a lug 24 formed on the upper handle 4 and the lower end with the lug 25 formed on the staple engaging member, so that when the handles are moved toward each other the staple engaging member is positively actuated.

A coiled spring 26 is secured to the rear end of the staple engaging member and to a lug 27 on the lower handle so that the staple engaging member is retracted when the handles are released.

The finger 18 of the staple engaging member is centrally disposed so that it lies, during a part of its movement, in the tongue slot 13. This effectively insures the engagement of the staple engaging member with the staple.

The staple engaging member has forwardly projecting lugs 28 disposed to engage the lugs 29 formed on the. upper jaw during the latter part of the movement of the staple holding member so that the staple holding member is swung with the jaw. To prevent the buttons dropping .rearwardly between the jaws and becoming entangled in the mechanism or clogging the same we provide a guard plate 30 which is arranged between the side members of the upper jaw at the rear of its button engaging members.

Our improved button remover is capable of rapid manipulation for the removal of buttons and that without likelihood of injury to the fabric or the buttons.

We have illustrated our improvements as especially designed by us for removing shoe buttons. The same is, however, desirable for use in other relations,

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a pair of pivoted jaws provided with handles, a tongue having a longitudinal slot in its front end slidably mounted on the lower jaw to move under a staple and support the material as the staple downwardly so that in one position it lies is withdrawn therefrom, means for actuating said tongue when the jaws are opened, a reciprocating staple holding member arranged to slide on said tongue during a part of its movement and having staple engaging fingers one of which is directed downwardly so that in one position it lies in said tongue slot, said staple holding member having lugs which slidably engage the upper jaw during the latter part of its movement for swing ing the staple holding member therewith, a retracting spring for said staple holding member, and a lever engaged with said staple holding member and with the upper handle so that when the handles are moved toward each other to open the jaws the staple holding member is actuated and on the retracting of said staple holding member the handles are separated. V

2. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a pair of pivoted jaws, a tongue having a longitudinal slot in its front end slidably mounted on the lower jaw to move under a staple and support the material as the staple is withdrawn therefrom, a reciprocating staple holding member arranged to slide on said tongue during a part of its movement and having staple engaging fingers one of which is directed in said tongue slot, said. staple holding member having lugs which slidably engage the upper jaw during the latter part of its movement for swinging the staple holding member therewith, and meansfor actuating said staple holding member and tongue when the jaws are opened.

, 3. In a structure of the-class described, the combination ofa pair of pivoted jaws provided with handles, a tongue slidably 1 5 mounted on the lower jaw to move under a staple and support the material as the sta ple is withdrawn therefrom, means for actuating said tongue when the jaws are opened, a reciprocating staple holding member arranged to slide on said tongue during a part of its movement and having lugs which slidably engage the upper jaw during the latter part of its movement for swinging the staple holding member therewith, a retracting spring for said staple holding member, and a lever engaged with said staple holding member and with the upper handle so that when the handles are moved toward each other to open the jaws the 1 staple holding member is actuated and on the retracting of said staple holding member the handles are-separated.

4 In a structure of the class described, the combination ofa pair of pivoted jaws provided with handles, a tongue mounted to move under a staple and support the material as the staple is withdrawn therefrom, means for actuating said tongue when the jaws. an" opened, a re ipro ar sing staple h ing member adapted to swing with the upper jaw, a retracting spring for said staple holding member, and a lever engaged with said stable holding member and with the upper handle so that when the handles are moved toward each other to open the jaws the staple holding member is actuated and on the retracting of said staple holding member the handles are separated.

5. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a pair of pivoted jaws provided with handles and slotted to receive the shank of a button, the lower jaw having upwardly projecting side flanges between which the upper jaw is disposed, said upper jaw having downwardly projecting side flanges with inturned button engaging members spaced to form the shank slot of the upper jaw, and a button guard disposed at the rear of the button engaging members, for the purpose specified.

6. In a structure of the class described, the combination of a pair of pivoted jaws provided with handles, the upper jaw having downwardly projecting side flanges with inturned button engaging members, and a. button guard disposed at the rear of the button engaging members, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. BALDWIN. [Ls] JAMES D. FREEMAN. [1,. s.]

Witnesses:

LUELLA G. GREENFIELD, MARGARET L. Gmseow.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

